Is there a significance to Halmista looking a bit femwnine even though the diety is male? If it’s a reference to some babaylans (Halmista’s former occupation before becoming a God, based on stories I’ve heard from old ones in my family) being transgender or gay/feminine males, I like that reference. Many old Filipinos due to their heavy Catholic ties really don’t like their old cultural Gods, especially my family, but seeing that you took time to make Halmista different from what most would believe, I fuckin’ love that. Props to you for remembering a baybaylan’s uniqueness.

EXACTLY! I’m glad you picked up on that! Halmista is definitely not straight haha! Although in the visayan mythos, he has two daughters, but his history as an Asog (male baylan/moon worshipper), corelates to the Moon God Libulan who is also thought to be the patron of homosexuality, not to mention one of his incarnations (happened when his body shattered into pieces turning him into seven moons), Bulan is in a sexual relationship with the God Sidapa.

Thanks for the comment! Really appreaciate it!

Jay

I’m sorry to ask this so late, but do you have anything I can read up on Halmista? I’ve known the other gods from the Visayan pantheon, but Halmista was always had barely any information about himself.

Disclaimer: All elements in this series are fictional, but are based on real historical accounts, belief systems, and culture based on the Pre-Hispanic Philippines (mainly the Visayas) dating post-Iron Age around 1000AD to 1300AD.

Special thanks to Akopito Ardinez for allowing me to use his Bisaya font. Check out his website on Visayan Culture.